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Child Arrangement Order

Child law states that the welfare of the children in a family must come first during any relationship breakdown. We will work hard to negotiate an arrangement for the children that both parties, and the children themselves, are happy with. This will include where the children should live as well as any other contact arrangements and care arrangements that are relevant.

Sometimes an agreement cannot be reached between parents. At this point it is important to seek legal advice from a family law specialist as you may face the possibility of court. This is where a Child Arrangement Order comes in.


What is a Child Arrangements Order?

A Child Arrangement Order deals with which parent a child lives with and how much contact they have with the other parent.

All families and every case is different and it is not always possible to reach an agreement with your partner regarding a parenting plan. As experts in family and child law, our solicitors can help guide you through the process of sorting out a Child Arrangement Order.

How much Child Maintenance should I pay?

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) identifies how much maintenance a child/party should get based on the income of the parent who is paying. There is a limit of a £156,000 income per year that can be taken into consideration. Parents can apply for a child maintenance that exceeds the limit by issuing court proceedings in the Family Court.

How can a solicitor help with a Child Arrangement Order

Navigating a Child Arrangement Order is a complex process for any parent. Our child law solicitors can offer support you can count on.

Filling out a Child Arrangement Order form can be a stressful process for any parent or child. We have found that where parents can agree child arrangements between themselves, the child or children will respond far more positively than when the court is required to impose such arrangements by court order. At Eric Robinson Solicitors, our specialist family solicitors pride themselves on client care and have handled cases involving parents, grandparents, siblings, or step-parents, which can include:

  • child arrangements: live with orders
  • child arrangements: spend time with orders
  • change of name
  • specific issues about schooling or upbringing of a child
  • parental responsibility
  • prohibited steps to prevent something from taking place

If a dispute cannot be resolved through negotiation or a dispute resolution appointment, we will contact the court and apply for a Child Arrangement Order form on your behalf, and our family solicitors will advise and represent you throughout the entire process, including at any court hearing.

Parents who are separating face countless issues to sort out; money, property and possessions are on one side of the equation and children are on the other. Most parents recognise the need to protect their children from the negative, and sometimes harmful, effects of separation, but even then, children can be overlooked when disputes escalate. It is important to instruct a family lawyer who is sensitive to difficult issues such as domestic violence. We can also apply to the court for a Prohibited Steps Order where there is a risk that a child will be taken out of the UK without the consent of one parent.

If you’re looking to come to an agreement with an ex-partner or need advice regarding a residence and contact query, speak to one of our today. Eric Robinson Solicitors is fully regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. We have 6 different office locations throughout Hampshire and Surrey. for each of our family solicitors can be found on our website and we can arrange a call back for prospective clients submitting their contact details via our email address or calling us on our phone number. Unfortunately, we cannot offer Legal Aid for access, residence and contact work.

FAQs

Do I need to maintain communication with the other parent?

After separation, parents should continue to communicate with each other openly about all issues involving or affecting their children. It may be difficult but it is essential. Showing a united front and providing reassurance to your children is so important. Make sure they know that, although their parents may no longer be together, they each love them and will continue to be there for them.

Who is responsible for making decisions concerning the children?

Parental Responsibility is a legal concept. It governs who is able to make important decisions about children. Mothers always have Parental Responsibility, but that is not necessarily the case with fathers. If a father does not have Parental Responsibility, he can obtain it, either with the mother’s agreement or by a court order.

What issues will need to be dealt with quickly?

Emotion and practicality don’t mix well, but where children’s welfare is concerned, it is important to be as level-headed as possible about the post-separation arrangements. The most pressing issue to decide is where and with whom the children will live, and the arrangements for the children to see the other parent. Children have a right to see both parents and this should be the starting point for the discussion.

What options are available if agreement cannot be reached?

Where there are issues which cannot be easily resolved between parents, consider asking an independent mediator to step in. Mediators are specially trained in working with parents to encourage helpful conversations about the children and to see if practical proposals can be agreed. It is not about getting you and your partner back together, it is purely about helping you sort out important arrangements for your family.

Mediation is a voluntary process, but in most situations it needs to at least be explored before you can apply to the family court to resolve any issues.

Can I involve the court if decisions cannot be reached?

The idea of having a judge look into your family life may be unsettling. But it is helpful to think of the court as a fair third party which has your children’s best interests at heart. When parents cannot agree on where the child will live, with whom they will spend time and when, the court can make a Child Arrangements Order. The court has wide powers when making this type of order, including the power to order a parent to complete a specific activity, such as attending a parenting course.

What are the potential risks that I need to guard against?

In some cases, during the separation and divorce process one parent will attempt to take control over their children. They may make decisions and act without obtaining the other parent’s consent (which should be obtained). One such example is a parent taking the children out of the country without the other’s consent.

If you are worried that your partner may act in such a way, then it is important to discuss it with your solicitor straight away. You may be able to apply to the family court for a Prohibited Steps Order which puts a legal stop on certain things happening. Courts will sometimes process these applications on an emergency basis without the other party being present (a “Without Notice” Order).

What are the potential benefits of involving the court?

The courts are not just on hand to help establish routine arrangements following separation. They can also assist at any time when parents cannot reach an agreement on a particular issue concerning the children. One such example is parents being unable to agree upon the school that the children should attend. In such cases, a parent can apply for a Specific Issue Order, allowing the Court to decide the issue in the children’s best interests. Where necessary such an application can also be made on a “Without Notice” basis.

How is child maintenance dealt with?

Parents should try and resolve the financial issue of child maintenance between themselves if possible. If they cannot, it is possible to apply to the Child Maintenance Service for help.

Arrangements about where your children should live and their contact with each parent should never be influenced by whether or not a parent is paying maintenance. They are entirely separate issues. Even if your partner is not paying maintenance at all, or has defaulted on payments, they are still entitled to see their children as arranged.

How will the children perceive the process?

Children remember what they see, hear and feel, and they have a knack of being in earshot when you least expect them to be.

We have worked with plenty of clients who are embroiled in bitter break-ups. We always advise them to do everything they can to protect their children from the negativity of separation. That means setting aside issues while you are in your children’s company and avoiding getting into arguments with a partner while children are in earshot. However strongly you feel, never pass on your true feelings about your partner to your children.

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